Program indicator



R. E. SMITH PROGRAM INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 20, 1956 Filed Oct.31, .1951

INVENTOR.

ROBERT ESMITH BYW A ORNEY Nov. 20, 1956 R. E. SMITH 2,770,900

PROGRAM INDICATOR Filed 001:. 31, 1951 2 Sheets-$169+ 2 iii A A A A A AA A nee -57 33 d 1] H l [f 1/ NJ [I n u 38 u [I -;:I::33

32 I I 1-:-:J 44-] P1215 A IN V EN TOR.

= I ROBERT E.$M|TH ATTORNEY ;,.Pat ented Nov. 20, 1956 n ed t t=s..P fQfii.

2,710,900 I PROGRAM 'IINDICATOR Robert E. Smith, Baltimore, Md.Application October 31, 1951', Serial No. 254,070

1 Claim. (Cl. 40 -65) causes the missing of an important program whichisespecially interesting to the user. This invention consists of adevice that will make possible the identification of the time andstation on which all the preferred and selected programs may be broughtto the attention of the observer in a positive and attractive manner.For this purpose a device is constructed with a casing or foldersuitably perforated in which ribbons or sliders are operated manually toregister the programs conspicuously and visually so as to be brought tothe active attention of the user.

The invention has for an object the provision of a mechanical programindicator that will facilitate the setting of a television or radio setto suit the user thereof, in accordance with his predeterminedselection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved programindicator that will permit a user to mark on a mechanical board theparticular presentations during the broadcast periods that he deems ofparticular interest to himself.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedprogram indicator that will facilitate and expedite the finding oftelevision or radio programs of particular interest to the specific userat any time of the day.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved mechanically setprogram indicator that will be artistic and attractive, which will workeffectively and be relatively inexpensive to produce.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the latter is morefully outlined.

For a clearerunderstanding of the invention and the objects thereof,reference is made to the accompanying drawings which indicate aparticular form of it by way of example. The drawings in conjunctionwith the following description illustrate the type of the invention inits preferred form while the claim designates the scope thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mechanical program indicatorembodying this invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail of the cross-bar and slider used in thisembodiment;

Figure 4 is a modified form of program indicator;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of another modified form of indicator;

Figure 7 is a rear elevati 11' of a portion of Figure 6 to show thegeneral structure of the indicator and sliders;

Figure 8 is a detail in perspective of the slider used in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a front view of the slider, shown in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a view in perspective of a modified form of indicator andslider usable in the indicator type shown in Figure 1. I p

Similar, reference characters refer-to the same parts throughoutthe-drawings.

,Referringto thedrawings, and particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, amechanical program indicator comprises a folder or casing 10 bent doubleon itself and preferably -made of .cardboard or other thin but stiffmaterial suitable for the purpose in question. The bent edge portion 11of the folder is provided with a series of slots 12 spaced uniformlyapartand arranged to permit sliders 13 of similar material to be pulledeasily therethrough. The sliders 13 are marked longitudinally. withindices 14 designatingdifferent'television channels or radio stations.Each slider is marked similarly and its indices are spacedlongitudinally thereon so as to register consecutively at windows 15left inthe walls of the folder or casing 10. The windows 15 are providedin both walls, and the sliders 13 are marked on both sides to make theindicator readable on either side of the device through the windows orabove the upper row of time markings 19. The time of day is printed at19 across the face of the walls as shown, so each slider 13 willregister its selected Station Index to the time it broadcasts thedesired pr0- gram. Thus if the station on channel E has a preferredprogram at 3 pm. the slider is pulled out until E on the slider appearsat the window 15 positioned under 3 pm. or above 6 pm. when that hour isscheduled.

In order to clear the board at the end of the day or before resetting itfor the next set of programs selected, the sliders 13 have hooks 16formed on their lower ends operating between the walls. A cross-bar 17extends across the folder between the walls and is adapted to engage thehooks and allow the sliders to be pulled down simultaneously out of theway. When the sliders are pulled up the bar 17 is raised by these hooks16. A bracket 18 enables the indicator to stand upright on a table.

In the modified form of indicator shown in Figures 4 and 5 the indicatorcasing is made in the form of a circular disc 20. The sliders 23 arepulled out radially through the peripheral slots 22 in the edge 21 sotheir indexes 24 can appear consecutively at the circular windows 25.The time numerals are printed at 29 adjacent the periphery of theindicator wall. Strings 27 engage with the sliders 23 to reset them whenthey are pulled tight.

In the modified form shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, the indicatorcasing 30, is shown in the form of a plastic member having a front flatsheet. Channels are formed at its back of plastic by employingT-elements 31 in which the sliders 33 can be readily reciprocated. Thesesliders are preferably actuated by means of handles 38 extending fromtheir backs through the long slots between the elements 31. The casing30 is made opaque at locations where same is desirable. In otherlocations such as the windows 35 where the station indices 34 areobserved during its use, the plastic is left transparent. A cross bar 37running in grooves 36 is used for resetting the sliders 33 by slidingagainst the handles 38. Time is shown by the spaced numerals 39 printedon the face of the casing.

In the modified form shown in Figure 10 a ribbon 43 fastened at one endto the casing and foldable on itself as indicated, is employed insteadof the slider 13, and is used where the number of stations is large; Thenumber of spaces for the sliders will be varied to suit the number ofdivisions, of the hour that are to, be selectively observed.

The device in all its forms enables programs to be marked off and leftready for observation when the user takes up the newspaper list andselects those that appeal to his interest. The setting is made at onetime and leaves the device ready to be used for the whole broadcastingday. The user simply looks at the device at the time of day he wishes tohear a program, and observes the station setting, then he dials hisreceiver accordingly and gets the program he wants to hear at that time.The' seting is simply done and when a change in setting is required, thecross bar or string is operated to clear the board and make it ready forthe next setting.

While several general forms of the invention are shown in the drawingsand described in the specification, it is not desired to limit thisapplication for patent to these particular forms as it is appreciatedthat other forms could be made that would use the same principles andcome within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed A program indicatorconsisting of a thin casing, having a fiat front face, two oppositelateral sides each having an extended slot therein, and a back portionconstituted by aligned, equally spaced T-shape d elements extendingrearwardly of the front face and defining channels therebetween runningparallel to the aforesaid slots, the front face of the casing having aof the openings corresponding to each of the channels, a

row of viewing openings, each plurality of imperforate sliders, therebeing one slider Eric tionally and slidably received in each one of thechannels, whereby when the indicator is held in the hand of the userwith the channels in a substantially upright position, the sliders willremain in place until forcibly moved by the user, said sliders, bearingindices visible through the openings, a handle on each of the slidersprotruding outwardly of the casing, a bar extending transversely of theback of the casing, said bar terminating at both ends into a hook fittedin and guided by the aforesaid slots, said bar cooperating with thehandles for resetting them to a starting position after use, said hooksbeing operable from either end of the indicator for actuating the bar.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS979,946 Harrod Dec. 27, 1910 983,682 Cheape Feb. 7, 1911 1,491,694Greener Apr. 22, 1924 1,672,389 Mahon June 5, 1928 1,773,670 GirlichAug. 19, 1930 2,069,372 Knitter Feb. 2, 1937 2,113,369 Bachicchio Apr.5, 1938 2,537,974 DeVaux Jan. 16, 1951 2,610,792 Kaufman Sept. 16, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS 16,444 Great Britain July 17,

